Mia's Tokyo Updates!

Hello, everyone!  It's crazy how we only have ONE more week here—then we are off to the beach to debrief until we leave on July 9! Thank you for following along with me through these posts about all God is doing in Japan and what I get to be a part of in His greater plan for the entire world! As per usual, God is continuing to teach me so much. This week, I have specifically been reflecting on this idea of "living on mission" and how I get to live on mission for God in each "pocket" of my life! I don't have to be overseas or in a specific place to glorify Him with my life. Learning to slow down, sit still, and let His gentle Spirit guide my feet has been something God has allowed me to experience this week—and for the rest of my life!!  I have been able to go deep with God and be grateful for all He has done in my time here and for what He hasn't done while I have been here. It is so easy for me to have faith in who He says He is when I see Him so clearl...

Hi everyone!!      We have officially hit the halfway mark (just a little over when you see this post)! It has definitely been a more emotional and harder week. I think the first couple of weeks felt like vacation, but as we have settled in more and become used to a "new normal," there have been many times when it can feel hard. To elaborate further, I think the nature of Japan is so fast and intense that it's easy to get wrapped up in that subconsciously, often losing sight of who you are and who God created us as humans to be. Since processing this and the emotions, I think I have learned how to slow down and be still with God. It is hard to do in a society that doesn't do that at all. What's crazy is that this is the same cultural norm in America, too. I can distract myself or numb out more easily in America than here. I am thankful that the Lord has been teaching me this because sitting still with Him and slowing down has been something that I didn't know ...

Konnichiwa!! We have officially completed our second week in Japan, and what a blessing it continues to be. I feel like I am learning so much about what it truly means to be a Christian in Japan. Being here has allowed me to see God as so much bigger than what I make Him out to be in my head. In America, we can get so caught up in the comfort of our own lives and be so consumed by what the next best product or thing to buy is or even make an agenda each day, not slowing down and seeing God in the still moments of our life.  In Japan, I have been learning so much not just about the culture and Japanese people, but who God is and who He calls me to be as His daughter. I have truly understood the depth of the gospel and how I have been redeemed by Jesus, who died for me. One thing I have been learning from God over the course of these two weeks is the importance of living with CONFIDENCE in Christ. Because I have been given a new identity in Him, I get to live in freedom and in fullne...

Hello, everyone!  The team and I made it to Japan on Thursday, May 29, last week! Traveling was pretty easy! Our first flight was the hardest, honestly. We flew from Orlando to LA and then from LA to Tokyo. The first flight was at 7 a.m., so I got 45 minutes of sleep the night before because of nerves and because we left for the airport at 3 a.m. The second flight was supposed to be 12 hours, but it was only 10! Praise God for that!! As I reflect on my first week here, many thoughts arise.  + Wow, I can't believe I actually am in Japan + It's sad to see the culture here. I will elaborate in a moment + I am so excited to see the way God deepened my relationship and dependence on Him and, most of all, to see how He uses the team and me to further expand His kingdom and glorify Him alone What the culture is like: As the weeks go on, I will have more to say on this, but for now, here are some things I have been able to take away. The Japanese people are always on some sort of stri...